Vegas Play of the Day: Florida at Alabama

Related Coverage

At least three times as many Alabama fans would show up for a three-hour kickers-only football practice than a basketball game.

And yet, I’m going to back the Crimson Tide on the hard wood in part because of home court advantage. In related news, we’re wondering why the Play of the Day, generated using odds from the South Point, isn’t off to the start we hoped for.

Alabama plus-5 vs. Florida: $220 to win $200

Not going to sit here and pretend Alabama is anything special. The Crimson Tide are mediocre, and a few months away from a coaching search.

This is more of a play-against the Gators, a team that’s extremely fortunate to have only lost two games and rank No. 6 in the country. They’ve looked particularly vulnerable on the road where they had to hold off crummy Auburn for a win-but-no-cover Saturday, a week after barely edging Arkansas in overtime.

It’s a favorable spot for Alabama, which has looked like a respectable team at Coleman Coliseum this season with an 8-2 record in front of its home crowd. The Tide shot less than 30 percent in an embarrassing 67-48 loss at Missouri Saturday.

Leading scorer Trevor Releford went 4-for-16 from the field, meaning he’ll be motivated to redeem himself along with the rest of his team.